VB summons IAS officer for questioning in Patiala land scam

After quizzing the lower rung officials in the infamous Patiala land scam, The Punjab Vigilance Bureau has summoned the Former Deputy Commissioner and IAS Officer Vikas Garg for questioning in sale and purchase of government land worth Rs. 250 crores.

After quizzing the lower rung officials in the infamous Patiala land scam, The Punjab Vigilance Bureau has summoned the Former Deputy Commissioner and IAS Officer Vikas Garg for questioning in sale and purchase of government land worth Rs. 250 crores.

Garg is already under suspension and was chargesheeted by Punjab Government for his role in scam.DIG of vigilance bureau (economic offences wing).V Neeraja, who is heading the Special Investigation Team (SIT) will quiz the IAS Officer, who is considered close to Badal family.

SIT is conducting the inquiry under the direct supervision of the DGP Vigilance Suresh Arora, as directed by the Chief Minister.

"We have reordered the statements of all other concerned officers, and now SIT will quiz the IAS Officer about his role", said DGP Vigilance Suresh Arora to HT.

Sources said that on basis of inquiry report by the Commissioner SR Ladhar, the vigilance has made a questionnaire for the IAS Officer, who was indicted by Ladhar in his inquiry report.Apart from that the VB has also decided to seek the list of the properties of the Garg and his family members, apart from other assets.

It is pertinent to mention that CM after examining the Inquiry report of Divisional Commissioner SR Ladhar, and recommendations of the Financial Commissioner Revenue NS Kang and Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, who all recommended vigilance Probe, CM had ordered probe to Vigilance Department.

In Chargesheet served by personnel department, government has accused IAS Officer of failing to prevent loss to government property, being instrumental in the sale of prime governmentland estimated to cost Rs 250 crore and committing grave irregularities by registering two sale deeds in Patiala on October 14, 2011.

Garg, as Deputy Commissioner of Patiala allowed the sale deed of 6000 sq yrds land, housing six government offices by declaring the property as private.

Acting on plea Tehsildar as Thind, whistleblower in case, and who is wrongly suspended in case, the Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia has asked the Financial Commissioner Revenue to sought the opinion of Advocate General of Punjab to give clean chit to latter.

Already the inquiry officer and former Divional Commissioner Patiala SR Ladhar has given chean chit to Thind highlighting that he has no role in sale and purchase of scam. In fact, he was the officer who declared the property as government and refused sale deed. However, in a bid to suspended the entire chain of officers from DC to Patwari, he was wrongly suspended by the department.